Stabilizer for bath immersed containers



May 14, 1963 E. ROTHSTEIN 3,089,605

STABILIZER FOR BATH IMMERSED CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 29, 1960 INVENTOR.EDWARD L.ROTHSTE I N WEI/442 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,089,606STABILIZER FOR BATH IMMERSED CONTAINERS Edward L. Rothstein, 5701Wyndale Ave, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Aug. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 52,729Claims. (Cl. 215-400) This invention relates to bath immersed containerssuch as in laboratory equipment and particularly to a stabilizer toprevent tipping over of such containers.

In the laboratory an immersion bath is used to heat the contents of aglass flask or graduate. Where the contents of the flask or graduate aresmall in quantity compared to the buoyant force of the immersion bath,the flask or graduate is liable to float in an unstable condition and betipped over by that buoyant force so that its contents are lost. It isan object of this invention to provide anew and improved stabilizer forsuch laboratory equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedstabilizer for bath immersed containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedstabilizer for bath immersed containers that is simple in constructionand reliable in operation.

In accordance with this invention, a stabilizer includes a plastictubular member formed in a ring shape and having a high density fillerof metal within the tubular portion of the member.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the features thereof,as well as the invention itself both as to its organization and mode ofuse will be more fully understood from the following description whenread together with the following drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a bath immersion heater for a flask usinga stabilizer embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a graduate having a stabilizerembodying this invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a flask having a stabilizer embodyingthis invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stabilizer embodying this invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of one form of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another form of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is schematic circuit diagram of a heater useable in the heatingequipment of FIG. 1.

In the drawing, corresponding parts are referenced by the same numerals.

In FIG. 1, a bath immersion heater includes a liquid container 10,partially filled with a liquid bath 12 such as water. The heatingcircuit therefor (FIG. 9) may include a heating element 14, a thermostat16 and battery 18. This circuit may be embedded in the base of theheater container as indicated by the wires 20.

A tapered flask 22 partially filled with a liquid 24 or other substancerequiring heating is immersed in the bath 12. Surrounding the neck ofthe flask is a stabilizer ring 26. The ring 26 is formed of a plastictube 28 (FIG. 5) containing a quantity of lead shot 30* or other highdensity 3,089,606 Patented May 14, 1963 ice filler. The diameter of thering tube is chosen tobe large enough to accommodate a sufficientquantity of lead shot. That is, the weight of the lead shot preferablyshould be equal to or greater than the weight of the bath liquiddisplaced by the flask. The plastic material should be pliable and shockabsorbent and preferably opaque.

Appropriate materials are Teflon (polytetrafluorethylene) andpolyethylene. Plastic tubing may be fabricated into a ring by joiningthe ends of a length of tubing after filling with shot. Alternatively, atoroid of plastic may be fabricated and the shot inserted through afilling opening that is subsequently plugged.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIG. 6, in which astabilizer is illustrated formed of a heavy metal ring 40 covered with asheath 42 of plastic. The plastic sheath 42 may be formed iro-m tubingor otherwise fabricated.

In use, the stabilizer is placed over a graduate 44 (FIG. 2) or a flask46 (FIG. 1). The plastic tube 28 is sufliciently pliable to yield whenpressed over a bulge 48 or other protuberance on the flask 46. Theplastic tube 28 also avoids danger of breakage of glassware when set inplace. The graduate 44 or flask 46 with the stabilizer 26 in place, whenimmersed in a liquid bath as shown in FIG. 1, is maintained stably inits immersed condition. That is, the overall weight of the graduate 44or flask 46 is greater than the buoyant force on the flask, and thegraduate 44- or flask 46 cannot be floated to an unstable position. Anydanger of tipping of the graduate 44 or flask 4 6 and loss of contentsis avoided. The weight of the stabilizer filler is preferably madesuflicient- 1y great to maintain the aforementioned stabilitynotwithstanding the flask 46 or graduate 44 being substantially empty.The ring shape of the stabilizer ensures the uniform application of aforce around the flask 46 or graduate 44 to oppose the buoyant force,which avoids any unstable application of such forces.

The foregoing description of different forms of this invention isintended to be illustrative and not as limiting on the scope of thisinvention. Various modifications are possible.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In combination with a liquid container of tapered shape for immersionin a liquid bath, said container being tapered with the narrowestportion of said taper at the top thereof, a stabilizer to preventtipping of said container when immersed comprising a plastic tubularring of ring diameter suitable for setting on said container and havinga high density metal filler within the tubular portion of said ring,said stabilizer being telescoped over the top of said container andengaging the sides thereof.

2. In combination with a container for immersion in a liquid bath, saidcontainer having sides which taper upwardly and inwardly, a stabilizerto prevent tipping of said container when immersed comprising a plastictubular ring shaped member having a high density metal filler within thetubular portion of said ring, the diameter of said ring member beingsufficiently large to surround said container, and the weight of saidmetal filler being greater than the weight of a quantity of Watersufficient to approximately fill said container, said stabilizer beingtelescoped over the top of said container and engaging the sidesthereof.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said metal filler is in the form ofshot filling said tubular portion.

4. In combination with a liquid container of tapered shape, saidcontainer being tapered with the narrowest portion of said taper at thetop thereof, and a liquid bath heating container for immersing saidliquid container, a stabilizer to prevent tipping of said container whenimmersed comprising a plastic tubular member formed in a ring shape andhaving a high density metal filler Within the tubular portion of saidmember, said stabilizer being telescoped over the top of said liquidcontainer and engaging the sides thereof.

5. A method of stabilizing a liquid containing flask References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 163,845 Browne June 1,1875 445,569 Morningstar Feb. 3, 1891 1,529,851 Smithson Mar. 17, 19252,517,922 Phelps Aug. 8, 1950 2,601,767 Wall July 1, 1952

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LIQUID CONTAINER OF TAPERED SHAPE FOR IMMERSIONIN A LIQUID BATH, SAID CONTAINER BEING TAPERED WITH THE NARROWESTPORTION OF SAID TAPER AT THE TOP THEREOF, A STABILIZER TO PREVENTTIPPING OF SAID CONTAINER WHEN IMMERSED COMPRISING A PLASTIC TUBULARRING OF RING DIAMETER SUITABLE FOR SETTING ON SAID CONTAINER AND HAVINGA HIGH DENSITY METAL FILLER WITHIN THE TUBULER PORTION OF SAID RING,SAID STABILIZER BEING TELESCOPE OVER THE TOP OF SAID CONTAINER ANDENGAGING THE SIDES THEREOF.